In a wryer tone, he adds, «It feels like you have about as much left as me.»
So little?
Perhaps he’s right; I didn’t really have a moment to take stock of my power levels before charging in. Which ishisfault.
I can’t reply to him mind-to-mind; that’s not among my powers.
But when the priests share looks, clearly on the edge of deciding if it’s worth testing me, I make sure to smile.
I smile wide, allowing my anger to erupt in my chest, the aura of my power increasing as the dragon at my side simultaneously lashes his powerful tail once into the ground hard enough to break the earth—
And the priests’ ranks break.
First a few, then in a rush, they flee.
I hold the sphere of power, relief making me lightheaded.
I didn’t kill anyone today.
I didn’t have to kill after all.
And now there will be a tomorrow for the dragon.
Maybethatcan be my legacy—
A world where people who don’t actually know each other give it their all to give other people a chance.
«You were supposed to take the supplies and find freedom,» the dragon’s voice growls in my mind.
Irritation replaces my moment of victory.
I have always been quick to anger.
I whirl on him, releasing the magic with my unstructured movement. “Youwere supposed to use the opening I gave you to findyourfreedom!”
We glare into each other’s eyes.
His the same shocking blue as his hair; mine the vivid magenta of my magic.
Then the abrupt surges of magic catch up with me all at once, and I pass out after all.
With the baffling thought chasing me into darkness that maybe now—even unconscious, even with a dragon—it’s finally, finally safe to.
Chapter 2
Iwakeuptothe vision of the stunningly intricate mosaic laid into the vaulted ceiling of Celestial Sanctuary’s entry chamber. It’s supposed to reflect how any one of the gods who incarnate as sages—represented by figures in an array of brilliant colors—can find clarity here in this mountain retreat to restore our strength, dancing our katas in forests and lakes.
I guess I did find my strength here, but what I did to make that happen... Peaceful is not the word.
Did protecting the dragon count as peaceful? I didn’t kill anyone, but I did threaten to. What other kind of strength could have not just stopped them, but made them go away?
I don’t know. It’s not what the Order made me study, given that they wanted to use my wrath in a particular way.
But the fact that they didn’t teach it to me doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist; it could just mean they didn’t want me to know it.
And strength that those who oppress are wary of spreading would be worth learning, I think.
“You’re awake.”
